200 women to be retested after CervicalCheck samples expire

HPV was found in the women's samples, but they were not sent on for cytology examination, within the timeline period of 42 days. Picture: Donna McBride 

CervicalCheck clinical director Dr Nóirín Russell has explained that it was Covid-19 social distancing restrictions that led to the delays in the sample processing centre which in turn led to the expiry to a number of samples.

Dr Russell said that the laboratory had to adhere to social distancing measures because of Covid-19 which meant fewer staff working and carrying out tests.